Power Restoration Process

After a major storm has passed and it is safe for JEA crews to work, JEA assesses the damage to our system and begins the restoration process. This effort could take several days, depending on the level of damage the system sustains. After the assessment is complete, JEA will have a better idea of how long it will take to restore service to customers. Also during this time, JEA will be communicating updates through local media outlets about outages, where crews are working and the progress being made.

Watch the video below to learn more about our power restoration protocol.

JEA Does Not Restore a Specific Side of Town Before the Other

The only customers that receive any special consideration are hospitals, public safety and other life support or life-sustaining institutions. Typically, these large customers are served by very large electric lines, which are the first lines to be repaired anyway.

Customers should keep in mind that stopping the engineers to ask questions will slow down this assessment and can also slow down the overall restoration effort. If your power is on, JEA encourages you to keep your front porch/flood light on - day and night - which will help our assessment teams further focus their attention on homes and facilities where power needs to be restored.

Why Do Restoration Times Differ Within a Neighborhood?

There are many reasons why your neighborhood may have areas without power next to areas with power:

In many instances, a single street is served by two different main power lines and/or substations, which explains why your neighbors may have power restored before you do.

It could also be that you and your neighbor do not share the same power line (more specifically, the same circuit).

The power line feeding electricity to your home may be damaged, while the one to your neighbor's house is not.

It also could be that your individual connection requires repair.

It may also be possible that your home needs internal electrical repairs before you can receive service.

If you see a crew passing but not stopping, it may be because work must be performed at a nearby location before electricity can be restored to your home.

Again, JEA will work to restore power to the largest number of customers first, moving to individual locations once power has been restored to major concentrations of customers.

Restoring Power Safely and Efficiently

JEA generally restores power in the sequence that will result in returning service to the greatest number of customers as soon as possible.

Here’s how the restoration process works:

1. The first step in our restoration plan is damage assessment, which includes physical inspections of our facilities and plants. Once damage assessments have been made, JEA begins repairs.

2. We begin repairs to our generating facilities and transmission lines from those plants, and to water and wastewater treatment facilities.

3. Next, we move on to main line repairs on electric circuits, water and sewer systems that serve critical facilities such as hospitals, police and fire stations.

4. It is our goal to restore services to the greatest number of customers as soon as possible.

5. Once the large impact areas have had power restored, JEA begins restoring power to those small pockets or individuals still without power.

JEA works to keep the electricity on for our customers as long as safety permits and makes repairs as needed until winds exceed 45 miles per hour. Many of our employees ride out the storm in locations, such as our generating stations and operation-center. You may have heard it all before, but it is helpful to review the basics of keeping you and your family safe during a storm.

Portable generators can offer convenience during periods of prolonged power outages. They can also be dangerous if used improperly. Please review this information if you plan to use a portable generator:

Why is responsible for repairs after a storm? If you have damage where the electric wires attach to your house, you must get a licensed electrician to make repairs before we can restore power to your house.